Table



April 1966 w. E. BAUDER 3,247,811

TABLE Filed Jan. 13, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f r-42 W 362% April 26, 1966 w. E. BAUDER TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13. 1964 W 6 xx 6 my M WM m N4 7 .I A A April 6, 1966 w. E. BAUDER 3,247,811

TABLE Filed Jan. 13, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 26, 1966 w. E. BAUDER TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 13, 1964 v, Z Mm & 4 w W DAM W United States Patent 3,247,811 TABLE William E. Bauder, (lntario, Califi, assignor to The Cal- Dalr Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 337,270 5 Claims. (Cl. 108-115) This invention relates to the furniture art, and more I particularly to an adjustable table.

In the past, it has been the practice to construct collapsible tables known as tray tables by forming trays with clips to hold the trays on a pair of inverted U-shaped members pivoted together to provide scissors type table legs. In such a case, the clips are attached to upper horizontal base portions of the inverted U-shaped members. The lower ends of the legs are covered by conventional protective rubber caps that also serve to prevent the legs from sliding over a slick floor.

For economy, many prior art tray tables have been constructed with sheet metal trays having conventionally rolled edges and crimped tube scissors type legs.

Although the above-described prior art tray tables are popular due to their inherently useful yet inexpensive construction, these prior art tray tables are not combination pieces of furniture. That is, they provide only flat horizontal table surfaces and nothing else. They are strong yet collapsible and stackable. However, they do not possess versatility.

In accordance with the device of the present invention, the above-described and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing a frame for a removable table top. In accordance with the present invention, this frame includes a diagonal first inverted U-shaped member having a base and a pair of sides. A second diagonal U-shaped member is also provided having a base and a pair of sides. The ends of the second member sides are pivoted from the sides of the first member. The relative sizes of the members and the connection between the sides thereof are such that the second member may be pivoted to a position below the first member from a position above it. A leg is then connected to and extends downwardly from the end of each side of one of the members. A foot is also provided which is fixed to the lower end of each of the legs. The two feet then extend horizontally beneath the first and second U-shaped members.

In accordance with the present invention, although several additional advantages are achieved, the advantages of conventional tray tables are, nevertheless, retained. However, the above described disadvantages of conventional tray tables are overcome by the device of the present invention. For example, the pivoted connection of the second member from the first member makes the device collapsible to a'compact position for storage. In accordance with a special feature of the invention, the legs and feet are also rotatable, whereby substantially all the structure of the frame may be collapsed to a position in a single plane. The device of the present invention is therefore stackable.

The device of the present invention is stable and sturdy, yet inexpensive, in that locking means are provided for the rotatable legs and feet. The entire frame of the device of the present invention may be constructed of a 3,247,8ll Patented Apr. 26, 1966 crimped tube. Further, a sheet metal tray with a rolled edge may be employed.

It is a feature of the present inventionthat the rolled edge of the tray may be employed in a snap fit of the sides thereof over the bases of the U-shaped members.

As in the prior art, stability can be achieved by the use of a rubber projection at one end of each foot and a rubber cap at the other end thereof.

In addition to the foregoing advantages of the device of the present invention, this device is also highly versatile. That is, the device of the invention may be used in several positions for several different purposes. The device of the invention may be used as a conventional tray table in which a tray is located on the frame in a horizontal position. However, by the use of the legs and feet, it is possible to slide the tray over a persons lap while he sits in a chair. This was not possible with conventional tray tables because the scissors type legs of the conventional tray tables interfered with any such table location.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the tray is provided with means intermediate its sides to engage the frame. This means is positioned farther below than the location of the positions at which the tray otherwise engages the frame in its horizontal position. When the tray is assembled with the intermediate means in engagement with the frame, the tray is inclined for writing.

The intermediate frame engagement means is preferably located in a position on the bottom of the tray spaced from the center of it. For this reason, if the tray is turned around from the writing position andan opposite edge of it is engaged with the frame at the same time the intermediate frame engagement means is placed on the frame, the device of the present invention becomes a reading table with the tray inclined at a steeper angle than it is inclined when it is located in the Writing position.

Still another feature of the device of the present invention resides in the location of one edge of the tray over the base of the second U-shaped member after it has been pivoted downwardly to a position approximately in the same plane as that of the first U-shaped member. In this position, a book again may be placed on the tray in an inclined position, the frame located over the legs of a person in bed, and the device used as a bed reading table.

Still another feature of the present invention resides in the use of the frame with a combination table top having one side appropriately surfaced so that it may be used in a horizontal position as a work or study table. The reverse side of this combination top may include a blackboard.

Channels may be provided on each side of this combination top to support it either in a horizontal position or in an inclined position hung from the base of the first U-shaped member and resting thereon.

Alternatively, a tray table, when employed in the position of the blackboard, may be used as a sketch board.

The above-described and other advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a'side elevational view of the device of the present invention including a frame and a tray table in a sketch board position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device similar to that shown in FIG. 1 with the tray table shown in a horizontal tray position;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device of the present invention in the position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the device of the present invention in which the tray table is located in a writing table position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device of the present invention with the tray table located in a reading table position;

FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of the tray of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a broken sectional view of the table top taken on the line 77 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the frame of the device of the present invention shown in its collapsed position;

FIG. 9 is a broken away sectional view of a portion of a leg of the frame taken on the line 99 shown in FIG. 8 with a frame leg in an unlocked position;

FIG. 10 is a broken away sectional view of the frame similar to that shown in FIG. 9 with a frame leg in a locked position;

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view of a frame leg taken on the line 11-11 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a broken away side elevational view of the device of the present invention similar to the view of FIG. 1 with a tray table located in a bed table reading position;

FIG. 13 is a broken away rear elevational view of the device of the present invention as it is shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view through an edge of the tray table and through a base portion of a U-shaped member indicating a.snap fit of the tray edge thereover.

The device of the present invention is indicated at 29 in FIG. 1. This device includes a first inverted U-shaped member 21 from which a second inverted U-shaped member 22 is pivoted at rivets 23 and 24 shown in FIG. 3. The upper end of a leg portion 25 is telescoped inside of the lower end of first member 21 on the left side thereof as viewed in FIG. 3. Similarly, a leg portion 26 is telescopecl into the right end of member 21.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, leg portions 25 and 26 are not rotatable about the axes of a pair of sides 27 and 28 respectively of member 21. They are locked in position by means shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, as will be explained. Leg portions 25 and 26, however, are adjustable to a collapsed position shown in FIG. 8, the collapsibility of which will also be explained.

A foot 29 is connected from the lower end of leg portion or leg 25 and extends rearwardly beneath member 21. The same thing is true of a foot 30 fixed to the lower end of leg portion or leg 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, member 21 has a base 31 from which a tray 32 is suspended. Member 22 simply has Sides 33 and 34 and a base 35'.

As shown in FIG. 1, member 22 hangs free while tray 32 is suspended from base 31 of member 21 in a sketch board position.

Except for the fact that hard rubber clips 35 and 36 are riveted to tray 32 at 37 and 38, respectively, as shown in FIG. 13, tray 32 may be made of sheet metal having a uniform thickness throughout. Tray 32 is provided with a rolled edge at 39 as shown in FIG. 14 to snap over base 35' of member 22. Similarly, a rolled edge is provided at 40 so that tray 32 may snap over base 31 of member 21 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

A conventional rubber projection 41 is fixed to the curved joint between legs 25 and 26 and corresponding feet 29 and 30 by conventional means such as a rivet or metal screw, not shown. A conventional rubber cap 42 is slipped over the end of each leg 29 and 30.

Tray 32 is downwardly recessed as at 43 shown in FIG. 3 to fit inside members 21 and 22.

Device 20 is placed in the position shown in FIG. 2 by rotating member 22 in the direction of arrow 44 shown in FIG. 2 and locating the edges of tray 32 over the bases 31 and 35' of members 21 and 22, respectively.

Tray table 32 is rotated to a writing table position in the direction of an arrow 45 as shown in FIG. 4. In this case, member 22 is rotated in the direction of arrow 46 and hard rubber clips 35 and 36 are snapped over base 35. In such a case, one edge of tray 32 is kept in a position snugly fitting and snapped over base 31 of member 21.

To convert the writing table of FIG. 4 to the reading table of FIG. 5, the edges of tray 32 are switched as indicated by arrows 47 and 48. Note will be taken that in this case, clips 35 and 36 are positioned closer to member 21 than they are so positioned in FIG. 4. Further, member 22 is rotated to a position still further toward member 21 as indicated by arrow 49. An edge of tray 32 is again snap fit over base 31 of member 22 and clips 35 and 36 are snapped over base 35 of member 22.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a combination Masonite and blackboard may be provided as indicated at 50 having a plastic body 51 with channels at 52 and 53 to fit over bases 31 and 35' of members 21 and 22. Preferably, device 50 is used in the position of tray 32 shown in FIG. 2 with Masonite at 54 uppermost. Alternatively, device 50 is reversed and used in the position of tray 32 in FIG. 1 with blackboard 55 uppermost.

Device 20 is provided with a frame 56 as shown in FIG. 8 which may be collapsed to a compact position for transportation or storage. All parts may be placed in a position substantially in the same plane. Note will be taken that member 22 may be rotated still further in the direction of arrow 49 as shown in FIG. 5 once tray 32 is removed from frame 56. Member 22 may, in fact, be moved to a position such that base 35' of member 22 actually comes into contact with base 31 of member 21. If desired, nylon or other low friction bearing plastics may be employed between members 21 and 22 around rivets 23 and 24, respectively, as indicated at 57 and 58 Lo facilitate rotatability of member 22 relative to mem- Legs 25 and 26, and feet 29 and 30 may also be rotated to approximately the same plane as that of member 21, due to joints at 59 and 60 shown in FIG. 8. It is necessary to pull legs 25 and 26 out of member 21 the distance 61 before they are rotated. This is made necessary by the use of a bolt and rivet connection through sides 27 and 28, as shown in FIG. 9. A bolt is indicated in FIG. 9 at 62 having a head 63 and a nut 64 threaded to its end opposite head 63. A rivet 65 is fixed through side 27 of member 21. Leg 25 and foot 29 may be rotated and fixed in their operative positions by rotating leg 25 to the left, as viewed from the right end of FIG. 9 and then by pushing leg 25 axially into side 27 of member 21. In this case, solts 66 and 67 will be pushed up around rivet 65 and a shank 68 of bolt 62 to lock leg 25 and foot 29 in position. Angular movement of leg 25 about the axis of side 27 of member 21 is permitted by slots 69 in leg 25. Leg 25 is shown in its unlocked position in FIG. 9 and in its locked position in FIG. 10. Leg 26 and side 28 of member 21 are similarly constructed. For this reason, the rotatability and locking construction of leg 25 will not be described.

As will be seen, FIGS. 9 and 11 show leg 25 in its pulled-out and collapsed position. FIG. 10 shows leg 25 in its pushed in, operative and locked position. Tray 32 is shown in a still different position on frame 56 in FIG. 12. The rolled edge 39 of tray 32 in this case is snapped over base 35 of U-shaped member 22 while member 22 is maintained in a substantially parallel opposed relation to U-shaped member 21. As in prior positions of frame 56 and tray 32, tray 32 is provided with an apron at 70 which rests upon portions of legs and 26, and upon members 21 and 22.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the advantages of conventional tray tables are retained by the device of the present invention although the disadvantages thereof are overcome thereby. For example, all of the principal structures of frame 56 including members 21 and 22, legs 25 and 26 and feet 29 and 30, may be made of crimped metal tube. Further, tray 32 may be made of sheet metal having rolled edge at 39 and 40.

Frame 56 is collapsible to the position shown in FIG. 8. Further, tray 32 may be mounted on base 31 of member 21 when frame 56 is collapsed to the position shown in FIG. 8. In such a position, both frame 56 and tray 32 may be stacked in a compact position for storage.

Notwithstanding the inexpensive, collapsible and stackable character of frame 56 and tray 32, the device of the 7 present invention, when set up, is stable and sturdy. Note will be taken that legs 25 and 26 are rotatable through joints 59 and 60. Nevertheless, the locking character of rivet 65 and bolt shank 63 in slots 66 and 67, respectively, of leg 25 make leg 25 sturdy in its operative position shown in FIG. 1 and in other parts of the drawings.

Note will be taken that the snap fit of rolled edges 39 and 40 over bases 31 and 35' of U-shaped members 21 and 22 provide for a sturdy and stable construction. Stability is also added by rubber projections 41 and rubber caps 42 at opposite ends of feet 29 and 30.

Notevwill also be taken that the device 20 of the present invention is highly versatile. That is, a sketch table may be provided as shown in FIG. 1. A tray table or pull-up table may be provided as indicated in FIG. 2. A writing table may be provided as in FIG. 4. A reading table may be provided as shown in FIG. 5.

A convertible table top may be provided as shown at in FIG. 6. Further, a bed reading table may be provided as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The table top 50, when employed in the position of tray 32 shown in FIG. 2 and with surface 54 uppermost, may be used as a work or study table. Alternatively, with the blackboard at 55 uppermost in the position of tray 32 in FIG. 1, the device of the present invention may be employed as a blackboard.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, many changes and modifications thereof will of course suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. The present invention should therefore not be limited to the embodiments selected for this disclosure, the true scope of the invention being defined only in the appended claims.

The word table is hereby defined for use in this application as including, but not limited to, the device 20 with either tray 32 or device 59 in any position thereon and also without these structures.

What is claimed:

1. A frame for a removable table top, said frame comprising: a diagonal first inverted U-shaped member having a base and a pair of sides; a diagonal second U-shaped member having a base and a pair of sides, the ends of said second member sides being pivoted from the sides of said first member, the relative sizes of said members and the connection between the sides thereof being such that said second member may be pivoted to a position below said first member; a leg connected to and extending downwardly from the end of each side of one of said members; a foot fixed to the lower end of each of said legs, said feet extending horizontally beneath said members; a table-top removably mounted at one side thereof on the base of one of said members, each of said legs being rotatable relative to and about the axis of the member side connected thereto; means to lock said legs in a position to hold said feet approximately parallel; a rubber cap on the end of each of said feet; and a table top mounted on the bases of said members, said table top having a central recess with side walls bearing against corresponding member bases, said table top having an apron with a flange de- Cit 6 pending downwardly therefrom adjacent each recess sidewall, each of said flanges having a lower rolled edge of a size and position to snap fit over each corresponding member base.

2. A frame for a removable table top, said frame comprising: a diagonal first inverted U-shaped member having a base and a pair of sides; a diagonal second U-shaped member having a base and a pair of sides, the ends of said second member sides being pivoted from the sides of said first member, the relative sizes of said members and the connection between the sides thereof being such that said second member may be pivoted to a position below said first member; a leg connected to and extending downwardly from the end of each side of one of said members; a foot fixed to the lower end of each of said legs, said feet extending horizontally beneath said members; a table-top removably mounted at one side thereof on the base of one of said members, each of said legs being rotatable relative to and about the axis of the member side connected thereto; and means to lock said legs in a position to hold said feet approximately parallel, said legs, feet and second U-shaped member all being rotatable to a position in approximately the same plane.

3. A tray supporting frame comprising: a first inverted substantially U-shaped member located generally in a single plane, said first member having an upper bight portion to support one side of a tray and a pair of legs extendingdiagonally from an upper rearward position to a lower forward position; a second inverted substantially U-shaped member located generally in a single plane, said second member having a bight portion to support another side of a tray, said second member also having legs, each of said second member legs being pivoted to a corresponding one of said first member legs, said second memher being narrower than and pivoted inside of said first member; a foot located generally in a single plane, each of said feet extending downwardly and rearwardly beneath each corresponding first member leg; and an assembly connecting each of said first member legs to a corresponding one of said feet below said second member, each assembly including means to mount a corresponding foot on the lower end of a corresponding first member leg in a position to rotate about a hinge axis located approximately at the intersection of a vertical plane and the said plane of said first member, each said assembly also including means to guide a corresponding foot in a manner to slide upwardly and downwardly along each hinge axis, said guide means including stop means to prevent rotation of said feet in either direction about said hinge axis when said feet are located in their uppermost positions.

4. In a table construction including a table top having resilient means at either two or three spaced positions on the underside thereof, the combination therewith comprising: an inverted U-shaped member having a pair of legs extending diagonally from an upper rearward position to a lower forward position, said legs being rigid throughout their lengths; a second inverted U-shaped member having a pair of legs pivoted from the legs of said first mentioned member, both of said members having bight portions of a size to permit said resilient means to snap fit thereon, said feet being slidable upwardly and downwardly relative to the legs of said first mentioned member, said feet being rotatable about said hinge axes when said feet are in their lowermost positions; and means to lock said feet in positions such that they cannot rotate in either direction about said hinge axes when said feet are in their uppermost positions.

5. In a table, the combination comprising: a table top supporting structure; a pair of feet connected with said structure, said feet being rotatable about corresponding hinge axes to collapsed positions, said feet being slidable upwardly and downwardly relative to said structure, said feet being rotatable about said hinge axes when said fee-t are in their lowermost positions; and fixed means to lock said feet in positions such that they cannot rotate in either References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Bothwell 108--26 Slattery 108-26 Zalkind 108121'X Martin 1081 15 FRANK B.

Davis 108117 Barile 108--120 Jacquse 108124 Koett 108--115 Botnick 108124 Kolb 108115 Elein 108119 Knoblock 108124 Goodman 10826 Huffer 108119 X SHERRY, Prizmiry Examiner. 

1. A FRAME FOR A REMOVABLE TABLE TOP, SAID FRAME COMPRISING: A DIAGONAL FIRST INVERTED U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A BASE AND A PAIR OF SIDES; A DIAGONAL SECOND U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A BASE AND A PAIR OF SIDES, THE ENDS OF SAID SECOND MEMBER SIDES BEING PIVOTED FROM THE SIDES OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, THE RELATIVE SIZES OF SAID MEMBERS AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SIDES THEREOF BEING SUCH THAT SAID SECOND MEMBER MAY BE PIVOTED TO A POSITION BELOW SAID FIRST MEMBER; A LEG CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE END OF EACH SIDE OF ONE OF SAID MEMBERS; A FOOT FIXED TO THE LOWER END OF EACH OF SAID LEGS, SAID FEET EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY BENEATH SAID MEMBERS; A TABLE-TOP REMOVABLY MOUNTED AT ONE SIDE THEREOF ON THE BASE OF ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO AND ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE MEMBER SIDE CONNECTED THERETO; MEANS TO LOCK SAID LEGS IN A POSITION TO HOLD SAID FEET APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL; A RUBBER CAP ON THE END OF EACH OF SAID FEET; AND A TABLE TOP MOUNTED ON THE BASES OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID TABLE TOP HAVING A CENTRAL 